Activists in Paris have emptied their bank accounts after a call by former French football star Eric Cantona to protest at practices by leading banks.

The group marched in costumes and withdrew money from a branch of Societe Generale. They then opened accounts with a nearby branch of Credit Cooperatif bank.

Activists seized on former Manchester United player Cantona's call in October for depositors to empty their bank accounts. The groups suggest signing up with co-operative banks and rejecting major banks that were given bailouts and that are often blamed for the global financial crisis.

The football star-turned-actor was nowhere to be seen during the protest.